Glastonbury Democrats Finally Break Through As Republicans Lose 14-Year Supermajority On Town Council

The Republican party not only lost its 14-year supermajority on the town council, but the Democrats regained control for the first time in years.

Top vote-getters on the nine-member council were Democrat council incumbents Jill Barry and Thomas P. Gullotta, who both won third terms. Joining the duo will be Larry Niland —who ran unsuccessfully in 2015 —and newcomers Deb Carroll and Mary LaChance.

"I think my Republican colleagues ran up against a perfect storm of a Republican president who is very unpopular and that gave us some votes,” Gullotta said. “I also think the elementary school air conditioning issue hung over them along with the town hall renovations … we had energetic, hardworking candidates who worked hard on the campaign."

Republicans include Council Chairman Stewart “Chip” Beckett III, who earned his seventh term; Vice-Chairman Whit C. Osgood, his ninth term; and Kurt P. Cavanaugh, his 12th term. Republican newcomer George Norman won the final seat over Democrat Jake McChesney.